Seaside – Buoyant and defiant, Republican legislators helped
kick off the annual GOP Dorchester Conference in this coastal town Friday night
despite pleas from Democrats to stay in Salem and finish the legislative
session.

Republican leaders introduced state senators and
representatives to rousing "championship" music that this reporter could not immediately
identify. Republicans share control of the House 30-30 and are in the minority
in the Senate 14-16.

The Legislature had set a Feb. 29 deadline for ending the
short session, but legally have until March 6. One of the hang-ups is language in one of the governor's priority education reform bills.

Co-House Speaker Bruce Hanna, R-Roseburg, said he had
expected to give an update on the just finished legislative session, but that
didn't work out. This is what he said he tells reporters who ask why they're not done:

"I am not pressured, nor are your members pressured, by
time. We're pressured by the right kind of legislation to pass through this
body, not some feel-good, look-good thing," he said.

"And if it takes an extra day, we're going to get that job
done."

Democrats wanted to work through the weekend. (House Co-Speaker Arnie Roblan, D-Coos Bay, missed Thursday's opening night in New York City of a play his daughter wrote and produced.) Lawmakers continue to get a $123 per diem for every day they are in session, including weekends.

The audience didn't mind. They cheered when
Senate Minority Leader Ted Ferrioli, R-John Day, introduced his members, saying
that these are the people who kept the public's handgun license information private.

Republican House Leader Kevin Cameron, R-Salem, asked his
members to line up to his right because, "since we're on the right side of
everything, I want you on the right side tonight." (They were on the left side
from where the audience sat.)

Dorchester was started in 1965 by Bob Packwood, who later
went on to serve in the U.S. Senate. He attended Friday night along with former
Gov. Vic Atiyeh, the last Republican to govern the state.

U.S Rep. Greg Walden is scheduled to speak before lunch. The
conference will finish Sunday with a straw poll in the presidential race.

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